Lisbon, July 10, 2026 (Lusa) - Six areas in the district of Almada, on the south bank of the River Tagus in the area of the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, will be without water from 10.00 pm on Friday until 6.00 am on Saturday, as part of the council’s measures to replenish water reserves.
In a joint statement published on the official Facebook pages of Almada Council and Almada’s Municipal Water and Sanitation Services (SMAS), it is specified that the “total cut to the water supply” will affect Feijó, Laranjeiro, Vale Flores, Barrocas, Cova da Piedade and Chegadinho.
“The water supply will be restored gradually, meaning that water may return to taps at different times within the affected areas,” stated the council.
On Thursday evening, night-time water cuts were implemented in the areas of Trafaria, Raposeira, Corvina, Fonte Santa, Banática and Porto Brandão, and on Wednesday night in Charneca da Caparica, Aroeira, Marisol, Fonte da Telha, Palhais, Lazarim, Botequim, Vila Nova da Caparica, Capuchos, Pilotos, Funchalinho, Vale Rosal, Vale Cavala, Quintinhas and Quinta de Santa Teresa.
In recent days, there have been reports of successive water supply failures, particularly affecting the Costa da Caparica; as a result, on Monday, the contingency plan of Almada’s Municipal Water and Sanitation Services (SMAS) was activated and a crisis unit set up.
Meanwhile, the Mayor of Almada, Inês de Medeiros (PS), declared a state of alert in the area on Wednesday.
“Whilst the state of alert remains in force, restrictions on water consumption will be implemented to preserve this essential resource for domestic supply and for services that are indispensable to the public,” she said.
Among the measures are a complete cut-off of the water supply in certain areas of the district from 10.00 pm to 6.00 am, and a ban on all uses of water from the public network that do not correspond to domestic or essential purposes, namely, watering public and private gardens and golf courses, washing cars, filling swimming pools, using showers and foot-washing facilities at bathing areas, operating ornamental fountains, artificial lakes and other features using water for aesthetic purposes, and washing outdoor paving, courtyards, walls and roofs.
From Saturday, access to several municipal sports facilities in Almada will be restricted, and the events ‘Trafaria Com Prova’, scheduled to take place between today and Sunday, and ‘Solar Com Vida’, scheduled for Saturday in Sobreda, have been postponed due to the alert.
According to the council, the situation facing Almada is exceptional and stems from a very significant increase in water consumption, which has placed unprecedented pressure on the water supply system.
However, the council and SMAS are guaranteeing the supply to essential facilities and services, namely hospitals, health centres, care homes, the fire service and other critical infrastructure, by providing alternative supply methods, including water tankers, in areas where this proves necessary, and have strengthened coordination with neighbouring authorities and other relevant authorities to ensure the full available response capacity.
Meanwhile, the minister for the environment and the mayor of Almada held a meeting on Thursday, which was also attended by the chairpersons of the Portuguese Environment Agency, Águas de Portugal, EPAL and SMAS Almada.
At the end of the meeting, the minister gave assurances that a new water extraction well would be operational by the end of the week, increasing the system’s capacity by around 20%, and that the current water supply constraints in Almada should be resolved within two to three weeks.
GC/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
